Megalithic dolmen site near Moodbidri

Recent archaeological explorations were conducted at the megalithic dolmen site in Mudu Konaje, near Moodbidri, in Dakshina Kannada.

About Mudu Konaje site:

• The site was discovered and reported in the 1980s by historian and researcher Pundikai Ganapayya Bhat.
• The megalithic site at Mudu Konaje featured a total of nine dolmens positioned on the slope of a stone hill.
  • However, only two dolmens remain intact as of now, with the rest of the burial sites having succumbed to ruin.

Figurines and Preservation:

• Unique terracotta figurines in various states of preservation were unearthed at Mudu Konaje.
• Among the eight figurines discovered, there were two cow bovines, one mother goddess, two peacocks, a horse, the hand of a mother goddess, and an unknown object.
• These figurines were determined to be datable to 800-700 BC.

About Dolmen (Portal tomb):

• It is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of two or more upright megaliths supporting a large flat horizontal capstone or “table”.
• The megalithic culture in India is characterized by various types of burials and the use of iron, with dolmens being one such burial type.
• In South India, megalithic dolmens were known by a variety of names, including Kalmane, Pandavara Mane, Moriyara Mane, Moriyara Betta, Panara Arekallu, Madmal Gunda, Kandi Kone, Kottya, Toonth Kal, Pandavara Kal, and more. These names attest to their popularity among the local populace.

Features:

• They were constructed by erecting massive stone slabs known as orthostats in a clockwise arrangement, resulting in the formation of a square room.
• The square chamber was sealed by another substantial stone slab serving as a capstone.
• Typically, an entrance in the form of a round or U-shaped aperture, referred to as a port-hole, was crafted on the Eastern slab.

Significance:

• They offer valuable insights into the dating of the Dolmens and Bhoota cult or Daiva Aradhane prevalent in coastal Karnataka.
• The cow bovines discovered in the dolmens exhibit parallels with similar megalithic terracotta figurines found in Malampuzha, Kerala, and Egypt.

Ref: Source